Delbrico M. Slaughter, 31, of Canton, is a firefighter and EMT for the Jackson Fire Department. He is a graduate of Canton High School and attended Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, where he majored in criminal justice. He is the father of a 5-year-old son, Matthew, who he calls “the love of my life. My son is my daily inspiration to be the best dad and person that I can be,” he said. “I’d like to tell my son, ‘Daddy loves you, Bud!’ ”

As a kid growing up, I rode my bike a lot and played basketball, but I was often ridiculed for being so small. I felt like the joke was always on me. This motivated me to show the world that I could be anything I wanted to be. I refused to remain the “puny” kid that everyone picked on.

I continued playing basketball in high school and college. I stayed in the weight room although I wasn’t quite sure what to do at the time. I took it upon myself to learn about weight lifting, the various muscle groups,and eating healthy. Little did I know, not only was exercising and diet important, but I also had to have self-discipline and determination to achieve the results I was looking for.

When everyone else was hanging out, I was in the gym and busy reading anything that I could get my hands on related to fitness.

After college, I was the opposite of most people. Usually people gain weight after college because they let themselves go. I gained weight on purpose because I started exercising and training. I went from 145 pounds to the 197 pounds that I weigh now.

Diet and exercise go hand in hand. You can’t do one without the other. I had to learn about nutrition and what to eat. I now eat six to seven meals a day, beginning at 4:30 a.m. It’s all about what you eat. I believe that if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I plan all my meals two days ahead. I cook and prep my meals every other day and carry them with me.

I go to the grocery store with a list. I buy chicken and fish in bulk, bags of frozen mixed vegetables and fresh fruit. I eat a lot of chicken breasts, fish, asparagus and baked sweet potatoes. I spend two hours at night cooking my meals and placing them in plastic containers. When I travel, I keep my meals in the car on ice packs, and I can stop at a gas station and warm them in a microwave.

We’re all human, right? Desserts are my weakness. I can eat a whole banana pudding in one sitting. It’s hard for me to resist desserts.

I compete in body building shows in the Men’s Physique category. I’ve traveled to shows in Nashville, Tennesse, Houston, Texas, and areas in Mississippi and Alabama. I have a show coming up in Las Vegas later this year. My goal is to earn a Pro Card so that I can get sponsors.

I’ve decided that I will not be average in this sport, in my career or life. I refuse to claim limitations nor will limitations define me as a person. I’m constantly pushing myself over and beyond the limits of life. You can follow me on Facebook, or on Instagram @N2workingout where I post daily food and workout motivation tips. I say, “Work hard. In silence let success make the noise to the heart.”

My Workout

My fitness plan, when not working, includes going to the gym twice a day. I usually try to work out two to three hours each session.

I do a combination of weight lifting, cardio and abs. I have a schedule where I dedicate each day to a specific muscle group.

Although I do lift heavy weights, I find myself doing a lot of reps — I do five sets of 100 reps. I’m used to it now. I don’t want to be average.

The Me File

What I’m reading:

I am now reading two books: “Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man,” by Steve Harvey, and “Let It Go: Forgive So You Can Be Forgiven,” by T.D. Jakes. I also read MuscleMag magazine.